Since 1996, the RRCA has awarded over $730,500 in grants in support of elite runners in the U.S. In total, including those selected in 2020, 140 athletes (72 women and 68 men) have received a Roads Scholar grant. The grants awarded by the RRCA go directly to the athletes to help support their goals and training needs.
Grants in the amount of $5,000 per year have been awarded to four to six athletes annually since the program’s inception. The program was created to improve the state of long distance running in the United States.
Roads Scholar Grant Criteria Includes:
- Having U.S. citizenship;
- Recently graduated from college with no NCAA eligibility remaining (or be of the same age as recent college grads with a proven record of elite performance);
- Proven record with top performances and near to elite times in events including track meets and/or road races between 5K to marathon distances;
- Plans to pursue elite distance running as a career;
- Recommendation(s) for a coach/mentor.
Application deadline for a 2022-23 Roads Scholar grant is November 1, 2022.
If selected, grantees must agree to:
- Mention that you’re an RRCA Roads Scholar recipient in interviews and include this fact on your running resume;
- Help promote the program to donors and the running community at-large;
- Attend an RRCA-related event during the 24-month period following the award of the Roads Scholar grant (travel and lodging will be paid by the RRCA or participating event).
- If you have or acquire an agent, it is your responsibility to inform your agent of this obligation. Events may include: RRCA National Convention or RRCA Championship Event. Attendance and choice of events will be mutually agreed upon by the athlete and the RRCA.
- You acknowledge and agree that the RRCA may suspend future payments under the grant in the event that you engage in conduct or behavior deemed by the RRCA to involve fraud, doping offense, or conduct which otherwise has the potential of placing the RRCA or the Roads Scholar program in a negative light.
- If income (not including prize money earnings) exceeds $40,000 during the year, you may not be eligible to receive the full grant disbursement.
Roads Scholar Grant Recipients
2020-2021 Roads Scholars
2021 Roads Scholars
- Aaron Albert (Baton Rouge, LA)
- Aidan Reed (Boulder, CO)
- Tristin Van Ord (Blowing Rock, NC)
- Joshua Yeager (Minneapolis, MN)
2020 Roads Scholars
- Karis Jochen(Boulder, CO)
- Dhruvil Patel(Hopkins, MN)
- Abbabiya Simbassa (Flagstaff, AZ)
- Futsum Zeinasellassie(Flagstaff, AZ
2010-2019 Roads Scholars
2019 Roads Scholars
- Annie Frisbie (Minneapolis, MN)
- Frank Lara (Boulder, CO)
- Dakotah Lindwurm (Burnsville, MN)
- Connor McMillan (Provo, UT)
- Alexis Zeis (Boulder, CO)
Special Grants for 2020 Olympic Trials Qualifiers
- Brogan Austin, Des Moines, IA
- Andrew Colley, Blowing Rock, NC
- Martin Hehir, Philadelphia, PA (2016 Roads Scholar)
- Tyler Jermann, Burnsville, MN (2017 Roads Scholar)
- Elkanah Kibet, Colorado Springs, CO
- Bernard Lagat, Tucson, AZ
- Augustus Maiyo, Colorado Springs, CO
- Parker Stinson, Boulder, CO
Special Grants for 2020 Olympic Trials Qualifiers
- Emma Bates, Boise, ID (2017 Roads Scholar)
- Samantha Bluske-Palmer, Tuscaloosa, AL (2018 Roads Scholar)
- Kelsey Bruce, Dallas, TX
- Lindsay Flanagan, Louisville, CO
- Roberta Groner, Ledgewood, NJ
- Sara Hall, Flagstaff, AZ
- Katy Jermann, Burnsville, MN (2015 Roads Scholar)
- Bethany Sachtleben, Fairfax, VA
- Aliphine Tuliamuk, Flagstaff, AZ
2018 Roads Scholars
- Samantha Bluske-Palmer
- Reid Buchanan
- Erin Clark
- Reed Fischer
- Nicolas Montanez
- Grayson Murphy
2017 Roads Scholars
- Gabrielle Anzalone
- Emma Bates
- Johnny Crain
- Alia Gray
- Tyler Jermann
- Matt McClintock
2016 Roads Scholars
- Katja Goldring
- Martin Hehir
- Mara Olson
- Robert Molke
- Maddie Van Beek
Jim Spisak
2015 Roads Scholars
- Luke Puskedra
- Juli Accurso
- Eric Fernandez
- Lauren Jimison
- Griffith Graves
- Katy Moen
Special Grants for 2016 Olympic Trials Qualifiers
- Josphat Boit
- Aaron Braun
- Jeffrey Eggleston, also RRCA Roads Scholar 2010
- Craig Leon
- Mike Morgan, also RRCA Roads Scholar 2005
- Sean Quigley
- Annie Bersagel,
- Esther Erb Atkins, also RRCA Roads Scholar 2014
- Heather Lieberg
- Wendy Thomas
- Rebecca Wade
2014 Roads Scholars
- Esther Erb Atkins
- Emily Gordon
- Matt Llano
- Jonathan Peterson
- Daniel Quigley
- Natosha Rogers
- Ethan Shaw
- Amy Van Alstine
2013 Roads Scholars
- Cole Atkins
- Meaghan Nelson
- Alexi Pappas
- Tyler Pennel
- Gabe Proctor
- Mattie Suver
- Daniel Tapia
- Amy Van Alstine
2012 Roads Scholars
- Scott Bauhs
- Brandon Bethke
- Jon Grey
- Sarah (Porter) Crouch
- Lauren Kleppin
- Alissa McKaig
2011 Roads Scholars
- Tyler McCandless
- Megan Duwell
- Lex Williams
- Meghan Armstrong Peyton
- Bobby Mack
- Megan Hogan
2010 Roads Scholars
- Stephan Shay
- Lindsay Allen
- Patrick Smyth
- Jill Swope
- Jeffrey Eggleston
1996-2009 Roads Scholars
2008 Roads Scholars
- Josh Moen
- Jonathon Pierce
- Brett Gotcher
- Sally Meyerhoff
- Julia Lucas
- Emily McCabe
2007 Roads Scholars
- Nate Jenkins
- Steve Meinelt
- Patrick Tarpy
- Michelle Lilienthal
- Emily Mortensen
- Alicia Craig
2006 Roads Scholars
- Samia Akbar
- Maria Cicero
- Stephanie Bylander
- Jacob Frey
- Nephi Tyler
- Matt Gonzales
2005 Roads Scholars
- James Carney
- Trent Briney
- Mike Morgan
- Lucinda Hull
- Ann McGranahan
- Casey Owens
2004 Roads Scholars
- Amy Yoder Begley
- Kristin Price
- Turena Johnson Lane
- Matthew Gabrielson
- Kyle Baker
2003 Roads Scholars
- Kate O’Neill
- Laura O’Neill
- Nicole Jefferson Aish
- Chris Graff
- Adam Wallace
2002 Roads Scholars
- Kyle Baker
- Chris Graff
- Amy Yoder Begley
- Tara Chapin
- Jeanne Hennessy
- Nicole Jefferson
2001 Roads Scholars
- Josh Cox
- Mike Donnelly
- Clint Verran
- Kelly Cordell
- Collette Liss
- Rachel Sauder
2000 Roads Scholars
- Todd Reeser
- Nick Rogers
- Ryan Wilson
- Laura Baker
- Kimberly Fitchen
- Milena Glusac
1999 Roads Scholars
- Ray Appenheimer
- Christopher England
- Kristin Ihle
- Janelle Olson
-
Kim Pawelek
1998 Roads Scholars
- Scott Larson
- Peter Julian
- Kristin Ihle
- Lucy Nusrala
- Carole Zajac
1997 Roads Scholars
- Jeff Campbell
- Peter Julian
- Kristin Beaney Chisum
- Deena Drossin
1996 Roads Scholars
- Kevin Collins
- Keith Dowling
- Susannah Beck
- Julia Kirtland